12V outlet

[Spower]

I mostly boondock and like to watch some TV at night. My last trailer had a charging station right below the TV so I used a 12v 600w inverter, plugged into the 12v outlet, plugged TV and satellite box into the inverter. Worked great!!

My new 2020 Jayco (I just picked up) does not have a 12v outlet near the TV, it only has one in the bedroom.

Can you guys help me on how I can add one by the TV? There is plenty of room behind the TV.

Or is there an alternative? I saw once somebody had a unit that was solar charged then you could use it inside to run stuff. Anybody know what I'm talking about?

TIA!!

[Riverman]

Order a 12 volt socket on eBay and install it. There should be 12-volt power nearby.

[Spower]

Originally Posted by Riverman

Order a 12 volt socket on eBay and install it. There should be 12-volt power nearby.

I know that part, I'm looking for installation instructions. Like the stereo is right there but how do I tap into it and will it power the inverter?

[GHen]

There are 4 screws that hold the radio in place, under the trim which just pops off.

My concern is that the wires to the stereo are most likely too light to handle a 600 watt inverter. Proper installation would be to locate the inverter near the batteries and run 110v line to the TV area.
Second option would be to run “heavier” 12 v wiring from the battery to the TV area and connect the inverter to that.

I’m sure there is electrician here that can do the calculations for the wire size.

The manufacturers run the lightest wire they can to based on the usage of each item in the rv to save money. That inverter probably draws 10 times the wattage of that stereo.

[Spower]

Originally Posted by GHen

There are 4 screws that hold the radio in place, under the trim which just pops off.

My concern is that the wires to the stereo are most likely too light to handle a 600 watt inverter. Proper installation would be to locate the inverter near the batteries and run 110v line to the TV area.
Second option would be to run “heavier” 12 v wiring from the battery to the TV area and connect the inverter to that.

I’m sure there is electrician here that can do the calculations for the wire size.

The manufacturers run the lightest wire they can to based on the usage of each item in the rv to save money. That inverter probably draws 10 times the wattage of that stereo.

I like the second option, would probably be best, just not sure how I would run the wire as the TV is at the back of the trailer.

[RogerR]

Find a good car audio installer in the area and ask them what gauge to run. If possible go from the power panel direct to the new outlet. Maybe even a dedicated fuse if you have an empty slot in your power panel.

[GHen]

Originally Posted by Spower

I like the second option, would probably be best, just not sure how I would run the wire as the TV is at the back of the trailer.

I’m in the same situation with the tv in the back. I chose option one since the 12v wire must be much heavier than the 110volt wire.
You can run the wire under the coach along the frame and come up near where the tv is. I would also prefer the inverter at the tv since I can easily plug it in and turn it on and off, it’s seems easier, but it is more complicated and expensive to run the 12 line.

Best way I can describe the situation is the difference between and normal water hose (110v) compared to a pressure washer hose 12v. There is like 10 times the pressure on the 12v line compared to the 110v line. Again, an electrician could probably explain it better. Fact is, less chance of melted wire or fire on the 110 v system. I’ll see if I can calculate some facts in another post based on a 600w inverter.

[GHen]

Check with an electrician to confirm my numbers.

Ok, so it looks like you need #6 gauge wire as a minimum for a 600w inverter for 12 volt going 30’.
Your stereo probably has #16 gauge wire going to it.

For 110V you should run #14 gauge wire and that would be 1/2 capacity which means you could upgrade the inverter up around 1500 watts if you wanted to plug more stuff into it, like a coffee maker.

The #6 gauge would cost you about $55 for the 30’, amazon.
The #14 gauge 110v wire would cost about $12.

[RoyBraddy]

I have a 600WATT AIMS Power Inverter in the area of my OFF-ROAD POPUP area and it is wired directly in the large Battery Box I have. 12VDC Leads are Marine Grade 2AWG gauge...

My AIMS 600WATT PURE SIGN WAVE Power Inverter is direct wired to a Terminal block where the battery bank is located on the trailer tongue area. I get the 2AWG cables from AMAZON with the ring connectors already installed... Makes for easy fused install...

I also run a couple of 120VAC Extension Cords with multi-tap head on the back of an cabinet that can used by just plugging things into them. Being a PSW Type Power Inverter I don't have to worry about what gets plugged into the extension cords...


google image

This is my floor plan for my OFF-ROAD operations running things off the battery...

Roy's image

Being a Ham Radio guy this layout works very well for me operating my Radio's and Antennas when off-grid...

I also installed a couple of these 12VDC Power Stations inside my POPUP trailer that has the USB connections for the various devices etc... Search AMAZON for 12VDC USB SOCKET Panels... These usually come with cabling and can be installed vertical or horizontal...


Google image...

Roy Ken

[Spower]

I also forgot to mention the TV is in a slide...
I'm going to look today to see where I can run the wire up to get inside by the tv. I will run the wire under the trailer.

Question on wire connection to the battery-I have 2 batteries, do I connect the wires to just one battery or positive to one and negative to the other?

Also what size fuse will I need?
Which 12v outlet to get?

Thx!

[GHen]

I’m assuming you have chosen to run 12 volt wires to the tv.
Yes, under the rv and then follow the wires harness already going to the slide so they all move together, make sure you have plenty of slack, 6 gauge wire is pretty stiff. Connect to negative on one battery and positive to the other battery, or to the terminal on your disconnect.
50 amp fuse is listed good for 6 gauge wire.

[GHen]

Oh, and it’s too much amperage for a 12 volt outlet, they can only handle about 20 amps or less, you should hard wire it to the inverter.

My inverter has two connection, the 12 plug connection provides only 250 watts, the spring clips that attach to the battery with heavier wire provides 500 watts.

[Jagiven]

6 AWG is the recommend wire size for a 600W inverter with a 50 amp fuse.

Most modern LED TVs use less than 100 watts. If you are only using the TV, it might be worth looking for a smaller inverter and running a smaller gauge wire.

Otherwise, installing the inverter near the battery bank and running a dedicated 120V 15 AWG wire to the TV.

Where/how to run the wire. I have run many wires in my TT. I spent a little bit of time, determining where Jayco ran all my utilities. I followed those pathways. Sometimes it was a challenge to get the wires around corners such as behind my shower. A fishtape was very helpful at times.

[GHen]

Correct, TVs alone don’t draw much.
For me, the tv, sound bar and dish satellite draw about 4-500w.

I have my inverter mounted right next to the batteries making the 12v wires as short as possible. I can then just turn off on essential breakers and plug the shore power directly into the inverter.

The best solution is to keep those high amperage 12volt wires as short as possible. Saves a bunch of money also.

[Spower]

Ok so based on what I am learning from you guys and a few others.....

I am thinking to put the inverter in the front bedroom, and run wires down through front compartment to the batteries. Then I will just run an extension cord to the tv/sat box when I want to use it.

Question....what 12v outlet will handle my inverter safely?
OR
I could probably cut 12v plug off inverter, add wire and wire inverter right to the batteries, no 12v outlet. Would this scenario still need a fuse inline?

Thx!

[GHen]

Great, much smarter approach.

Guess the wiring depends on the inverter. Can you share a model name and number? It would be better to hardwire and not go through a lightweight outlet. At least to a wiring block where the wires are bolted together. It’s not that big of a deal for 600 watts but it should be done right the first time.

Also, what’s your distance from the batteries to the inverter? I’ll check and see if you can use lighter wire since you’re not running it 30’ anymore.

[Spower]

Originally Posted by GHen

Great, much smarter approach.

Guess the wiring depends on the inverter. Can you share a model name and number? It would be better to hardwire and not go through a lightweight outlet. At least to a wiring block where the wires are bolted together. It’s not that big of a deal for 600 watts but it should be done right the first time.

Also, what’s your distance from the batteries to the inverter? I’ll check and see if you can use lighter wire since you’re not running it 30’ anymore.

It's an older inverter.....Bravo DC12v to AC115v Model inv-600

Looks exactly like this one, didn't come with the gameplate.

https://www.amazon.com/Bravo-View-IN.../dp/B0015AQLAC

If I put the inverter in the bedroom the wire would be about 3 to 4 feet.

[GHen]

So is your inverter a 600w peak, 300w constant? Then we only need wiring for 300watt which explains why it only had a 12 volt plug for wiring.

[Spower]

Originally Posted by GHen

So is your inverter a 600w peak, 300w constant? Then we only need wiring for 300watt which explains why it only had a 12 volt plug for wiring.

I guess?

[GHen]

You could get by with the item below to get it to your bedroom. Please note it has 12AWG wiring. Most that I looked at have only 14 or 16AWG wiring. That would be too light. You would need heavier wire (10AWG) to get 300 watts to your tv because of the distance.

BESTEK 12V 24V Cigarette Lighter Extension Cord Cigarette Lighter Cable 3.7m/12.1ft Cigarette Lighter Socket, 12 AWG Heavy Duty Electric Wires (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P68L9RO..._VWIHEbN2GXVK4